07/15 - Thursday :: Fred Hersch & Nico Gori Duo

Web Sites: Fred Hersch / Nico Gori

Pianist and composer Fred Hersch has been called a "one of the small handful of brilliant musicians of his generation" by Downbeat and has earned a place among the foremost jazz artists in the world today. From the late 70's onward as a sideman to jazz legends including Joe Henderson, Art Farmer and Stan Getz, he has solidified a reputation as a versatile master of jazz piano, as well as a relentlessly probing composer and conceptualist. He is widely recognized for his ability to steadfastly create a unique body of original works while reinventing the standard jazz repertoire – investing time-tested classics with keen insight, fresh ideas and extraordinary technique. Whether unaccompanied, in duo, working with trios and quintets, Hersch has explored the jazz tradition to its fullest even as he opens new and undiscovered doors. Hersch's numerous accomplishments include a 2003 Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship for composition, two Grammy® nominations for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance and a Grammy® nomination for Best Instrumental Composition. He has appeared on over one hundred recordings, including more than two-dozen albums as bandleader/solo pianist.

Nico Gori, born in Florence in 1975, started studying clarinet at the age of 6, and graduating from the Cherubini Conservatory in Florence in 1993. He began studying both saxophones and piano in 1985 and obtained the 5th year diploma in 1994. Later In 2003 Nico obtained the Jazz Music Diploma. Performing, since 1987, in theaters, clubs, festivals, and on RAI Television broadcasts. Nico has held many concerts as a soloist as well as performing in big bands, symphonic orchestras, jazz bands both as a leader or a sideman playing many genres of music from classical to jazz. He is currently a member of Stefano Bollani's widely-acclaimed quintet "I Visionari" and has toured with the group worldwide.